Ring filing structure



H. w. ZIMMERMAN RING FILING STRUCTURE l Filed Jan. 30, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheetc l July 9, 1935. H. W. ZIMMERMN l i RING FILING STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 30, 1953 Patented July 9, 19375l 'PATENT OFFICE RING'FILING STRUCTURE Herman WQ Zimmerman, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Automotive Maintenance Machinery Co.,

Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois .Application January 30, 1933, Serial No. 654,181

17 Claims; (C1. 29-76) This invention relates to ring filing devices and it has to do especially with structure for ling the ends of split piston rings for properly sizing and fitting thesame to the cylinder or 5f bore inwhich they are to. be used.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive structure of the foregoing character which is adapted to simultaneously i'lle both endsr of the ring or one end alone, whether the ends be cut at an angle, in step fashion, or otherwise. i

Another object is to provide a ring i'lling device adapted to support, center and guide the ring for the ling operation in such a manner that the" filing operation may be carried out easily and quickly with accuracy and uniformity at the proper angle with respect tothe body of the ring without skill on Ythe part of the operator.

A vfurther object is to provide a ring filing structure which includes a single means for adjustably supporting a file `in a plane at right angles to the plane of theV ring as well as other angles relative thereto. l

Additional objects are Vto provide a tool of the foregoing character which includes but a few parts that may be easily, quickly and cheaply serviced and replaced incase of wear, breakage, etc.; to provide a tool which requiresbut a minimum of up-keep andinsures continued accuracy and efliciency over long periods of use; to provide means insuring tting of the ring in such a manner as to obtain substantially its full efcien'cy under its intended operating condi tions; to reduce the time required for the filing operation with corresponding. reduction in cost of ring tting and assembling; and toprovide ior support of the toolin a vise or other supportingrmeans which may be in close proximity to the place of tting the rings as, for example, upon one of the cylinder head-fastening studs usually employed on a cylinder block.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this description progresses and by reference to the drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one form of structure embodying my invention; a step-cut.

ring being shown in one ling position in full lines and in another position in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown .in Fig. 1; 1 j

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially `on line 4-4 oiFig.3;.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 except showing the file in position for ling an angle cut ring;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating further the slotted face of one of the lesupporting blocks of the form of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 'I-'I of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational View of another form of structure embodying my .in-

vention; l .v

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of still another form of structure embodying myinvention; and i Fig. v10 is `an enlarged section taken substantially on line I0-I0 of Fig. 9.

@ne form of my invention is shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, and it includes a base member I0 having a boss Il with an elongated opening l2 adapted to receive the usual cylinder head attachment stud VI3 on a cylinder block I4 for `supporting the tool in close proximity to the cylinders to which the rings are to be sized and` tted. The base member is secured to the stud I3 by a thumb screw I5 carried by the boss I I. The base I0 is further provided with a projected shank portionrIS which has its uppersurrface formed to support a ringl guide plate I1 which is secured thereto .by Vscrews I3.. A strengthening web I9 depends from the shank IB and is provided with a lug 20 which extends substantially flush with the bottom of the boss II and is adapted to seat upon the cylinder block I4 for. holding the tool in horizontal position for the filing of the ring. It will be understood that while I have` described the foregoing structure as supported upon a cylinder head attachment stud I3 and cylinder block I4, other' suitable'supporting members may be lemployed as desired by the operator. For exam-- ple, the guide plate I1 is of greater width than the base shank I6, permitting thebase member to be inserted in a vise .with the lug 20 disposed between the jaws of the vise and with the adjacent Aportion of the platenI'I seated upon the top of the vise jaws to hold the tool in the desired horizontal position. Y

The supported end of the lguide plate I'I is provided with a recess 2| on which a le 22 is mounted, the recess 2| serving to receive and hold the ring lings and cuttings vas will be obvious from the description which follows. The file Z2 is supported by a pair of spaced blocks 23, 24 secured in the opposite end portions of the plate recess ZI by rivets, or other suitable fastening devices, 25. These le-supporting blocks are provided, in their confronting'faces with slots 26, 21 and 28 .which areopen at their upper ends to freely and slidably receive end-tongue portions 30 of the iile 22. The le is rigidly secured in its respective slots by thumb screws 3|, the threaded stems 32 (Fig. 6) of which engage openings 33 in the sides of the blocks which intersect the block slots 26, 21 and 28. The blocks 23, 24 are of squared form a-nd are mounted upon the plate |1 with theirmedian line (longitudinally of the plate |1) coinciding with the longitudinal median line of the plate. The file-support slot 26 of both blocks 23, 24 are centrally disposedat right angles to the plate |1 while the slots 21 and 28 are at opposed angles with respect thereto so as to support the le 22 in position for the filing of the split ends of a step-cut ring 34, such as shown in Figs. l to 4, or angle cut ring 35, such as shown in Fig. 5.

According to my invention, the rings 34 and 35 are supported and centered for reciprocatory movement along the plate |1 with their split-ends engaged with the opposite sides of the Iile 22. The ring is so positioned that its diameter line passing through its split portion is disposed substantially along the longitudinal center line of the plate 1 and, consequently, of the tool; whereby a more accurate and uniform ling of both ends of the ring may be accomplished, and both of the split ends of the ring may be filed at the same angle with respect to the ring body and to substantially the same extent insuring the intended maximum efficiency of the ring and its split portion.

In carrying out the foregoing feature of my invention, I, preferably, employ a ring guide which may take the form of a slide member 36 of general rectangular shape having a depending central portion 31 with a slideway 38 to receive the plate |1. The upper portion of the forward part of the slide member 36 is provided with a V-shaped vcut-out of sunicient depth to extend to the plate |1. This provides a V-shaped seat 39 adapted to support the wall of the ring opposite its split. The V-shaped cut-out also provides ring-supporting wings at the side of the plate |1 forwardly of the V-shaped ring seat, the upper surfaces of which wings lie substantially flush with the top of the plate |1 and prevent sidewise tipping of the ring and positively hold it in horizontal position substantially parallel with the top face of the plate 1. 'I'he plate |1 immediately beneath the ring is also exposed to 'support the adjacent ring surface. The sides of the V-shaped ring seat 39 are formed at the same angle relative to the plate |1 and they intersect each other on the longitudinal median line of such plate. A screw 4| is inserted in the end of the plate |1 to prevent removal of the slide member 36 after it is mounted upon its supporting plate.

In the use of the structure so far described, assuming that the step-cut ring 34 is to be led, the le 22 is mounted in the block grooves 26 and the ring is placed on the plate |1 with its -split portionl straddling the file and its opposed circumferential wall seated against the V-shaped slide seat 39 (Fig. l). The sides of the ring are then grasped to press the split ends thereof against the le, and the ring as a Whole supported by the slide member 36 is moved back and forth along the plate I 1 by the operator and the split ends of the ring are filed. When it is desired to file the ends of an angle cut ring 35 (Fig. 5) the iile is mounted in either the block slots 21 or 28 and the ring, supported as just described in connection with the step-cut ring, is reciprocated by means of the. guide support 36 with its split ends held by the operator against the le 22.

It will be understood that in certain instances, and particularly with the step-cut type of ring, the operator may Wish to iile only one of the split ends of the ring. This may be readily accomplished merely by pressing that end of the ring only against the le, the ring being supported in the manner already described.

In certain instances, it may be desirable to provide means aiding the operator in movement of the ring during the filing operation. One form of structure embodying this feature is shown in Fig. 8. This structure is the same as that previously described except that I may employ a spring 42 secured to the underside of the slide member 43, as at 44, and to the adjacent end portion of the base member web 45, as at 46. The spring 42 is so arranged that it tends normally to hold the slide member 43 in close proximity to the le supporting block 41 and it yieldingly opposes movement of the slide member away from such block. 'I'he movement of the slide member away from the block places the spring 42 under tension, wherefore such spring will move the slide member and ring 48 forwardly as the pressure of the operators hand is gradually released to permit of such movement.- In other words, with this arrangement, the ring 48 is placed in the same relative position as the previously described rings 34 and 35 and the slide member 43 is moved in one direction by the hand of the operator and in the opposite direction by the spring 42, thereby relieving the operator I' movement of the slide member in both directions.

In Figs. 9 and l0 I have illustrated still another form of my invention wherein I employ adjustable file-supporting blocks. More particularly, the guide plate 49 is provided with a recess 59 similar to the recess 2| of the form of Fig. l, and in this'recess are rotatably mounted spaced le supporting blocks Specifically, the guide plate 49 is provided with upstanding bearings 52, 53 at the opposite ends of the recess 5|), which arms are each provided with a cylindrical opening 54 adapted to rotatably receive the reduced, cylindrical, axial shafts 55 of the cylindrical lesupporting blocks 5|. The block shafts 55 are each provided with a circumferential groove 56 in which is received the inner end of a clamp screw 51 carried by the bearings 52, 53, In this manner axial displacement of the blocks is prevented without interfering with their rotation. The confronting face of each block is provided with a, slot 58 adapted to receive the end-tongues 59 of a le 60. 'I'he ring is supported in the same manner as the previously-described form, and, when it is desired to file a ring, the ring is placed upon its support with its split ends straddling the file 60 and the file and its supporting block are rotated to a position determined by the form of the ring split. In other words, if a stepout ring is being led, the file will be adjusted to a vertical condition and if it is an angle-cut ring it will be adjusted to an angular position. When proper adjustment of the file has been made, the clamp screws 51 are tightened to hold the file in that predetermined position. With this arrangement, it will be obvious that the tool is adaptable to all forms of split rings, the position of the iile being predetermined by the form of the ring split; wherefore, all forms of rings may be accurately and properly filed to insure their maximum performance in operation.

If desired, the periphery of the blocks 5| may bel provided with any suitable form of scale or marking (not shown) predetermining the posi-l tions of the blocks and le for the filing of -any the bearings 52,- 53 may be formed integral with plate 5i) or they may take the form of separate members.

-The advantages of my invention above first stated will be obvious from the foregoing description. The 'tool is exceedingly simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture. Rings of various types may be filed quickly with a high degree vof accuracy and uniformity even b-y an unskilled Workman. k

' It is to be understood that while I have shown and described several forms of structure embodying my invention, other changes in details and arrangements of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the Vclaims which follow.

I claim: l. A split ring filing device which includes a A supporting member, means carrying said supsof porting member, an elongated and fiat-sided le, means on said supporting member for immovably supporting said rile in edgewise relation to said supporting member, and another member mounted on said supporting member for slide movement along the latter toward and from said file and having provision for freely supporting said ring with its split ends disposed on the opposite sides of said file and for guiding said ring along said supporting member in movement back and forth along said file with its split ends engaged with the latter.

2. A split ring filing device which includes a guide plate member, a file extending lengthwise of said plate member, means on one side only 'of said plate member for supporting said file in a plane perpendicular tothe plane of said plate member as well as atdiiferent angles relative theretowithout changing its lengthwise position relative to said plate member, and another member mounted on said guide member lengthwiseremoved from said file for slide movement toward and from said file and having provision for freely supporting and guiding said ring.

3. A split ring filing device which includes a guide member, means for supporting said guide member, an elongated and flat-sided le, andv means for supportingV said file which includes a pair of4 blocks mounted on only one of the sides of said guide member in longitudinally spaced relation and 'having a plurality of slots in their confronting faces toslidably receive the opposite ends of said file, one of which slots in each said block is disposed perpendicularly to said guide member and the other at angles relative thereto, said vertical and angular slots in one block being longitudinally aligned with corresponding slots in the other block,` and a single means releasably carried by each of said blocks for securely clamping said le in operative position in all of said slots.

4. A split ring ling device which includes a supporting member, means for. supporting said member, an elongated and flat-sided le, means for adjustably supporting said file on said meniber in fixed positions at different angles relative thereto for filing of rings split at various angles relative to the ring body, and a slidev member also mounted on said supporting member for movement along said `supporting member, said slide member being shaped tov freely receive and position the ring for movement back and forth along saidvsupporting member with the split ends of the ring engaged with the opposite sides of said file.

5. A split ring filing device which includes a 4supporting member, means for supporting said member, a rile, means engaging the opposite ends of said file for supporting the latter on said member, and ring supporting means which takes the form of a member slidably mounted upon said support member and having a V-shaped face confronting said iile and adapted to embrace only the circumferential wall of the ring opposite its split ends, `the ring being adapted to be so supported by said slide member and supporting member that its' split ends are free to embrace said file and may be manually moved to engage said file. Y

6. A split ring filing device which includes a supporting plate, means for supporting said plate, a file, means for supporting the opposite ends only of said file substantially on and parailei with the longitudinal median line of said plate, and` a ring supporting and guiding member mounted on said plate for slide movement toward and from said file supporting means, said member having a V-shaped face adapted to embrace only a portion of the circumferential wall of the ring and hold the latter with its split ends free to embrace said iile, the sides of said V-shaped'face extending at similar angles relative to said plate and intersecting each other substantially on the longitudinal median line of said plate.

'.7. A split ring filing device which includes a v base member, means for mounting and holding said base member in'ho-rizontal position upon a cylinder block, a guide member carried by `said base member, an elongated and nat-sided ille, means for mounting said file'on said guide member, and means freely slidable on said guide mem.- ber toward and from .said file and adapted for supporting and guiding thev ring in movement along said guide member with its split ends embracing said le.

8. A split ring filing device which includes a base member, means for mounting and holding said base member in horizontal position in a vise, a plate member carried by said base member, an elongated and fiat-sided le, means for mounting said file on said plate member, and means freely slidable on said plate member toward and from said file and adapted for supporting and guiding the ring in movement along said guide member with its split ends embracing said file.

9. A split ring filing device which includes a base member, a supporting plate carried by said base member, said base member having an opening adapted-to receive the cylinder head fastening stud or the like on a cylinder block and a leg element adapted to engage the cylinder block and hold said plate in horizontal position, a file mounted on said plate, and means for supporting and guiding the ring in movements back and forth in contact with said file with its split ends embracing said flle. Y

10. A split ring filing device which includes a base member, a supporting plate carried by said base member, said base member being adapted to be received between the jaws of a vise and said plate being of greater width than said base member to seat upon the top of the jaws of the vise and hold said plate in horizontal position, a file mounted on said plate, and means forr supporting and guiding the ring in movements back and forth in contact with said file with its split ends embracing said le.

l1. A split ring ling device which includes a base member having provision for mounting the same upon a support in horizontal position, a guide member carried by said base member and projected therefrom in horizontal position, a pair of spaced le supporting blocks mounted on said guide member and having le receiving slots in their confronting faces, said slots being disposed at various angles to the face of said guide member for ling rings split at various angles relative to the ring body, and a member mounted on said guide member for slide movement toward and from said nie supporting blocks, said latter member being adapted to receive and embrace the circumferential wall of the ring opposite its split.

12. A split ring filing device which includes a plate member, means for supporting said plate member, an elongated and flat-sided file, means for supporting said file on said plate member, a member mounted on said plate freely receiving and supporting the ring for slide movement along said plate member toward and from said file-supporting means with the split ends of the ring embracing the opposite sides of the file, and spring means for moving said ring guiding and supporting member toward said file-supporting means following movement of the former away from the latter.

13. A split ring filing structure which includes a guide member, a le, means for adjustably supporting said ille on said guide member along the longitudinal median line of the latter, said means including spaced supports carrying the opposite ends of said file, means for rotatably mounting said supports on said guide member, means securing said supports in adjusted position, and a support on said guide member freely receiving a part only of the circumference of the ring for carrying the latter in movements back and forth with its split ends engaged with said iile.

14. A split ring filing device which includes a plate member, a file, stationarily mounted means for supporting said file on said plate member which includes a pair of spaced members having confronting faces in each of which is a slot for reception of the opposite ends of said ille, means rotatably mounting said spaced members upon said plate member, means for securing said spaced members in any predetermined rotative position, and means for supporting the ring.

l5. A split ring filing device which includes a plate member, a file, means for supporting said iile on said plate member which includes a pair of spaced bearing members, file supporting members mounted in said bearing members for rotation about axially-aligned horizontal axes, means for securing said le supporting members in all rotary positions, and means for supporting the ring.

16. A split ring filing structure which includes a guide plate, a iile, means for adjustably supporting said file on said plate, said means including spaced le supports, means for rotatably mounting said supports on said plate, means securing said supports in adjusted position, and means freely receiving and supporting the ring in a substantially horizontal plane with its split ends engaged with the opposite sides of said ille and for guiding the ring in movements back and forth in contact with said file.

17. In a split ring filing device, an elongated guide member having a longitudinally-extending recess therein, a le, file supporting members mounted at the opposite ends of said recess and provided with one or more slots in their confronting faces for reception of the opposite ends of said file, said slots being located in alignment with said recess whereby ring filings are received in said recess, and a ring guiding and centering member mounted on said guide member.

HERMAN W. ZIMMERMAN. 

